At first glance, the link between an SUV and a Formula E electric single-seater isn’t obvious. However, behind the comfort, silence and refinement we’ve come to expect from DS Automobiles lies another reality. Some of the technologies now fitted to this new model stem from the French brand’s nearly 11 seasons in Formula E. Since joining the electric championship in 2015, DS has turned its involvement into a breeding ground for innovation, and its racing cars into veritable rolling laboratories. And while the brand boasts an impressive track record with four world titles in Formula E, the transfer of technology to production cars is also considered one of its successes.
Beyond the visibility it offers, motorsport also allows manufacturers to test, develop and refine certain technologies that are subsequently transferred to their production cars. This is how DS Automobiles has capitalised on its long-standing presence in the discipline to develop its expertise in the energy optimisation of electrified powertrains.
